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| Mike Strong joins some
impressive names in women's college basketball history with 800
career wins. Scranton athletics photo |
In a career full of sometimes thrilling, often entertaining and occasionally record-breaking victories, the 800th of Mike Strong's storied career was one of the more anticlimactic ones.
Strong became the first head coach in NCAA Division III women's basketball history to reach 800 career victories as his University of Scranton Lady Royals pulled away early to defeat Juniata, 75-57, on Saturday in the John Long Center.
Strong becomes the second basketball coach in all of NCAA Division III to reach 800 career victories, joining Franklin and Marshall men's coach Glenn Robinson, who entered Saturday with 861 career victories.
He is also the 10th women's basketball coach in all NCAA divisions to reach 800 career victories, joining a list that includes former University of Tennessee head coach Pat Summit, current University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, current Rutgers University head coach Vivian Stringer and current University of North Carolina head coach Sylvia Hatchell.
Fittingly, Strong earned career win No. 800 on Scranton basketball alumni weekend, with more than 30 former Lady Royals in the stands. That made the man who has led Scranton women's basketball for the past 34 years even more proud.
"It's a little bit of relief, and I'm grateful for the opportunity today," Strong said. "It wasn't a secret that this might happen and there are so many people who played a part in this. I'm just glad we got it at home and on alumni day."
Some of the drama of the afternoon was removed when Scranton (11-2, 3-0 Landmark) jumped out to a 16-point lead in the first half. Juniata (7-6, 0-2 Landmark) cut the deficit to six at the half, but the Lady Royals immediately pushed the lead back to double figures early in the second half.
The Eagles made a small run late in the second half, cutting the deficit from 21 to 11 with three minutes left, but a couple of buckets put the game away and allowed Strong to stand back – as the crowd rose to its feet -- and enjoy the final moments of a milestone few have ever achieved.
"I knew people were applauding me or the situation, and I just wanted to relish this moment," he said. "I don't know how much longer I'll be coaching, so it's a fitting tribute to do it when so many people are back today."
A pair of seniors had big games in the win, as guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./St. Rose) had 12 points, five rebounds and three steals, and forward Katie Sherry (Havertown, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) had a career-high 11 points, four rebounds and two steals off the bench.
Sweeney and Sherry are the only two seniors on the roster and are two of just four current Lady Royals who were on the squad two seasons ago when Strong set the NCAA Division III women's basketball record with his 758th victory.
"It was a great experience to be on the team when he got the record at 758 and it's great to help him reach an even better milestone today," Sweeney said. "It's just a testament to the legacy that he's made Scranton basketball."
Sherry, who was a little-used reserve during her first three seasons, has been a surprise this season, scoring in double figures twice and providing solid play while averaging nearly eight minutes per game off the bench.
"It's really exciting to be a part of this and to share the experience with our other seniors," Sherry said. "We're so happy to have gotten his 800th on alumni night when all of his former players were here."
After the game, Strong couldn't say enough about Sherry's contributions to the team.
"She took the chance to work with us and play with us and got better in the post, because I didn't if she'd get much playing time," Strong said of Sherry. "She came to me and said, 'Give me a chance,' and she's had the best year she's ever had. She had a great game at King's and I don't know if we win that game without her. She's one of those kids that coaches love to coach."
Junior forward Meredith Mesaris (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) had 14 points and six rebounds, and freshman forward Sarah Payonk (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford) added 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists, four blocks and three steals in the victory. The Lady Royals shot 51 percent (25-for-49) and won the rebounding battle, 36-31.
More importantly, Scranton shut down the high-scoring Juniata attack, which entered the game leading the Landmark Conference in scoring at 76.8 points per game. The Eagles were shooting 44.9 percent from the field this season, which ranked 12th in all of NCAA Division III. But on Saturday, they shot just 32.1 percent (18-for-56), including 4-for-20 from 3-point range, and committed 20 turnovers.
But while the numbers in the box score added up to a victory for Scranton, the only number anyone cared about at the end was 800. The team broke the postgame huddle on the court with its tradition of yelling the victory total for the season. Only this time when Strong said, "That's win number …," the team responded with an emphatic "800!"
Mike Strong – By The Numbers
1 – NCAA Division III national championships, 1985
1st – NCAA Division III women's basketball coach to reach
800 career victories2nd – NCAA Division III coach (men's or
women's) to reach 800 career victories2nd-most – 20-win
seasons (25) in NCAA Division III women's basketball history
3rd-fastest – to 800 victories in NCAA women's basketball
history (all levels)
4th-best – winning percentage (.816) of NCAA women's coaches
to reach 800 career victories
5th – women's basketball coach at any NCAA level to win 800
games with one school
T-7th – for most seasons (34) with one school in NCAA
women's basketball history (all levels)
8 – NCAA Division III Final Four appearances
10th – women's basketball coach at any NCAA level to reach
800 career victories
18 – conference titles
23rd – coach (men's or women's) at any NCAA level to reach
800 career victories
800 – career victories